Chief secretary reviews Chattar Manzil restoration progress

LUCKNOW: Four months after chief minister Akhilesh Yadav took personal interest in its restoration, the plan to give the historic Chattar Manzil a facelift is gaining momentum yet again.

On Saturday, chief secretary Alok Ranjan visited the palace and instructed the state culture department to speed up the process of its restoration and conservation. Ranjan said the Indian Institute of Technology could be approached for the preparation of the structural plan of the monument.

As of now, Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has been asked to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for the restoration work. Ranjan said the state government was also planning to frame a policy for the conservation of monuments of historical significance.

“The old monuments will first be conserved and then efforts will be made to promote tourism,” said Ranjan while insisting that the historic Chattar Manzil will be beautified and developed into a cultural hub. While inspecting the building he also promised to provide adequate force for building’s safety.

PK Singh, director, state archaeology, said, “The plan is to build a museum of 2,500-year old history of Awadh and depict the rich cultural past of the land.”

Paintings, murals and documentary depicting the 1857 riots would also be prepared, he added. The revival of ‘thandi sadak’ towards the riverfront end of Chattar Manzil is also part of the agenda.

While instructing agencies to speed up work, Ranjan directed INTACH to submit the DPR within 3 months. He also said a documentary and a book showcasing the Awadh culture would also be made. “We would plan horticulture on one side of the Chattar Manzil,” he said.